This book was good but not particularly memorable. It has some insightful things to say but didn’t really stand out in the already crowded market I think it’s trying to fit into - ironic.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Oluo aptly explores the danger of toxic white masculinity and the sheer destruction it can cause for everyone involved. Many angles are taken into account and I admire the unafraid bluntness of its delivery. I thought it was so well written and engaging that even when taking my time with it I could pick it back up easily and continue to digest the information with no issue. Will definitely be seeking out her other work!

Ahh, the tyranny of the mediocre white men somehow running the world. Oluo writes frankly and honestly about the history that’s buried and the present day situation in which we find ourselves. “Mediocre” is littered with examples of how even the white men who’ve been painted as heroes (and sometimes especially them) have used their privilege and connections time and time again to get ahead, at the expense of women, Black and brown people, and just generally those who have less of a voice in our global society. I hope everyone gets a copy of this book. It’s harder to argue with facts.

Even better than her previous book So you want to talk about race even if at all possible. Super important book that makes us have a hard look and gives important lessons on how to avoid backlash in elections.

What a fantastic read. So powerful and insightful, it is definitely going to be ordered for the school library. It is such a relevant and timely book, and I know that it has the potential to be a very powerful educational tool for the older pupils, especially when discussed in tandem with other pieces of political writing. I cannot imagine this book being anything other than a bestseller.

Absolutely brilliant and incisive. I was so keen to read this after consuming Oluo's previous book and in my opinion, this is even better.

Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo is a deep dive into the damage caused by the drive to uphold the power of white men. No matter how qualified or unqualified those individual white men may be.

Charting the history of America—by way of Buffalo Bill, the civil rights movement, Joe Biden’s flip flopping record on school desegregation busing, racism within the NFL, and the backlash against the increasing number of women in politics on both the right and the left (Bernie bros, rightfully, do not get a pass here!)—Ijeoma Oluo examines the destructive impact white male supremacy has on Black people, people of colour and women.

This is how patriarchy and white supremacy were designed to work. And since they are both built into the fabric of daily life, they are inescapable. This is particularly true for people who live at the intersection of race and gender. Completely dismantling these systems of oppression is necessary because incremental changes have not been enough.

Oluo’s analysis is clear-thinking. Her writing is sharp, focused, and accessible despite the academic nature of some of the research involved.

I started reading Mediocre at the end of December and finished it the week of the US Capitol insurrection, which was an all too real manifestation of everything Oluo discusses. This added to the intensity of the book, but emphasised how vital a read Mediocre is.

In this book Oluo explored the historical and political background of American history, looking at where the power is held and that is with white men. This looks at white men’s deliberate efforts to repress women and people of colour. This power has left white men increasingly dangerous to others and themselves.

This a very worthy follow up to So You Want to Talk About Race. Oluo’s writing is accessible and powerful and you can tell this is well researched. I enjoyed finding out more about American history and it even explored things that I wasn’t expecting like football, so I learned things from this. Oluo enforces how so many different parts of society have been structured to allow white men to do a mediocre job while women, people of colour, especially women of colour, are kept at a disadvantage and have to work so much harder to get a modicum of respect. When women and people of colour do gain a higher position or a role with more power they are faced with disgusting hate and violence. Oluo also addresses points concerning Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden that were really informative to me as someone from the UK, and they are worth reading and thinking over.

Overall, this is a really accessible and informative work. I think this is essential reading. I will continue to read everything Ijeoma Olua publishes as I think she is amazing.

What a brilliant book.

Interweaving history with personal anecdotes and interviews with experts, Oluo deconstructs white male America with tact and depth, touching on everything from the legacy of Buffalo Bill to the rise of the Bernie Bros and the long, painful history of college football. The chapter on Shirley Chisholm was one of my particular favourites - since watching Uzo Adbua's portrayal of the Presidential candidate in 'Mrs America', I've wanted to learn more about this figure of American politics.

Oluo translates complex topics that span decades - sometimes centuries - of history into thoughtful analysis. It did take me a moment to really get into this book, as is often the case when I read non-fiction, but after the first chapter or so, I was hooked. A must-read: especially for those outside of the United States, attempting to understand the precedent for what's currently happening there.

Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the advance review copy of this book.

This was a timely read, particularly in the week of the 2020 Presidential election. This book was insightful, and posed a lot of food for thought around politics, education and segregation in US schools, feminism, history, hyper masculinity, race, and more. 

It taught me a lot I didn’t know about America, including the history around Native Americans and the challenges, and appropriation of land that they faced, migration, race riots, Shirley Chisholm, segregation, and much more. Reading this comes at a time when power structures and racial and gender inequality are under more scrutiny - especially in 2020.

This is a very worthy follow up to Oluo's previous book 'So You Want To Talk About Race'. I read this book just after reading 'Men Who Hate Women' by Laura Bates, and I think these two books together really compliment each other and really examine the headspace white men find themselves in currently. Both books make for depressing reading but are essential texts to understand how and why we are where we are in society right now. A must read!